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Group says it's vying for $70 million donation

Published: Tuesday, November 12, 2013 at 10:49 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, November 13, 2013 at 9:18 a.m.

One year after proposing a parenting and mentoring program to benefit at-risk youth in the Houma area, the Christian Coalition Against Gang Violence may be on the verge of making a much larger commitment to provide them with increased opportunity.

If the agency can satisfactorily submit a five-year budget, an investor is prepared to make a $70 million contribution that would allow the organization to establish the foundation for a television and radio broadcasting station and create an aviation curriculum that could be implemented in area public schools, according to the coalition's executive director, the Rev. Huey Jones Jr.

"Plans are there. It's just making sure we implement it," Jones said. "It's in the making."

Jones met with a group of board members and consultants Tuesday night in a conference room at the Terrebonne Parish Main Library. At the table there was an aviation specialist and a production specialist whom Jones has tasked with the creation of the two programs.

Just one year ago, the program was in the infancy of plans to put together a parenting and mentoring program as phase one of its efforts to provide youth opportunities designed to raise self-esteem and dissuade gang membership. That program has now been operating for several months in cooperation with Hope Restore for Life and the Terrebonne Housing Authority, and meets on Thursday nights at Senator Circle in Houma.

Terrance Conrad, who is heading up the aviation curriculum push, said the idea is to use existing classroom resources to create a vocational training program in local schools.

"It offers a unique challenge and prepares kids for life," Conrad said. "Upon completion they would have a chance to begin a career."

The challenge ahead for the coalition is to make a dizzying array of arrangements in a short period of time. Discussions include opening a building for the coalition's headquarters and buying planes for the aviation program.

Getting local schools to adopt an aviation curriculum will alone provide a mounting challenge for the 3-year-old group to overcome. Jones believes the numbers and evidence are on his side.

"It has been shown numerous times that aviation has psychological, financial, spiritual benefits," he said. "We're hoping we're going to sell the idea. It's not like we're asking them to buy planes for the kids. We would eventually like to be able to do that."

RR Production Studio, which is working alongside the coalition to establish a broadcast station, has already secured Federal Communications Commission licensing to begin operating a broadcasting station.

The pie in the sky for the coalition seems to be rising fast. Jones looked over a logo proposal in front of the group on Tuesday and instructed Ronnie Robertson, who is implementing branding and logo design for the group, to consider adding a globe.

Other points of Tuesday's meeting were the creation of a website and securing of the organizations 501 nonprofit status, which would allow the organization to take tax-exempt donations.

"We are going to do huge things for this community. We want this city of Houma to know how much this could mean," Jones said.

And if the group's aspirations come to fruition, a host of jobs could be created as well.

"There will be jobs coming, if this happens the way we want it to," said board member Jeanie Calder. "We want to employ people in this community to do something that makes a difference."

<p>One year after proposing a parenting and mentoring program to benefit at-risk youth in the Houma area, the Christian Coalition Against Gang Violence may be on the verge of making a much larger commitment to provide them with increased opportunity. </p><p>If the agency can satisfactorily submit a five-year budget, an investor is prepared to make a $70 million contribution that would allow the organization to establish the foundation for a television and radio broadcasting station and create an aviation curriculum that could be implemented in area public schools, according to the coalition's executive director, the Rev. Huey Jones Jr. </p><p>"Plans are there. It's just making sure we implement it," Jones said. "It's in the making."</p><p>Jones met with a group of board members and consultants Tuesday night in a conference room at the Terrebonne Parish Main Library. At the table there was an aviation specialist and a production specialist whom Jones has tasked with the creation of the two programs. </p><p>Just one year ago, the program was in the infancy of plans to put together a parenting and mentoring program as phase one of its efforts to provide youth opportunities designed to raise self-esteem and dissuade gang membership. That program has now been operating for several months in cooperation with Hope Restore for Life and the Terrebonne Housing Authority, and meets on Thursday nights at Senator Circle in Houma. </p><p>Terrance Conrad, who is heading up the aviation curriculum push, said the idea is to use existing classroom resources to create a vocational training program in local schools. </p><p>"It offers a unique challenge and prepares kids for life," Conrad said. "Upon completion they would have a chance to begin a career."</p><p>The challenge ahead for the coalition is to make a dizzying array of arrangements in a short period of time. Discussions include opening a building for the coalition's headquarters and buying planes for the aviation program.</p><p>Getting local schools to adopt an aviation curriculum will alone provide a mounting challenge for the 3-year-old group to overcome. Jones believes the numbers and evidence are on his side. </p><p>"It has been shown numerous times that aviation has psychological, financial, spiritual benefits," he said. "We're hoping we're going to sell the idea. It's not like we're asking them to buy planes for the kids. We would eventually like to be able to do that."</p><p>RR Production Studio, which is working alongside the coalition to establish a broadcast station, has already secured Federal Communications Commission licensing to begin operating a broadcasting station. </p><p>The pie in the sky for the coalition seems to be rising fast. Jones looked over a logo proposal in front of the group on Tuesday and instructed Ronnie Robertson, who is implementing branding and logo design for the group, to consider adding a globe. </p><p>Other points of Tuesday's meeting were the creation of a website and securing of the organizations 501 nonprofit status, which would allow the organization to take tax-exempt donations.</p><p>"We are going to do huge things for this community. We want this city of Houma to know how much this could mean," Jones said. </p><p>And if the group's aspirations come to fruition, a host of jobs could be created as well. </p><p>"There will be jobs coming, if this happens the way we want it to," said board member Jeanie Calder. "We want to employ people in this community to do something that makes a difference."</p>